How Your Kidneys Work And Why They’re So Important
Kidneys are responsible for filtering the wastes and excess fluid from your body. Their proper function is essential to life, and keeping your kidneys healthy promotes good heart health. To understand the vital role your kidneys play in your health, it’s important to know exactly what the organs do for your body.
Kidney Functions
Kidneys do so much more than filter your blood. The organs, which sit on either side of your spine behind your stomach, are only about 4 to 5 inches long. These small organs have a tall order when it comes to keeping your body regulated. Your kidneys are responsible for:
- Controlling blood pressure
- Building healthy bones
- Balancing ph levels
- Filtering blood
- Giving you energy
Without healthy kidneys, these five vital components to your survival would not be possible.
Kidneys And The Heart
The role of your kidneys contributes to the overall good health of your body, but the specific benefits to your heart are even more crucial. Your kidneys produce a protein called erythropoetein (EPO) which tells your body it’s time to make more red blood cells. The kidneys also produce renin, a hormone that helps control your blood pressure. Lastly, the kidneys play a vital role in balancing the phosphorous and calcium in your body – also important for good heart health.
Keeping Your Heart and Kidneys Healthy
Poor kidney and heart health is often preventable. There are measures you can take to keep your heart healthy, and in turn create properly functioning kidneys.
- Get moving: Regular exercise has a host of positive effects on your health.
- Get tested: Heart disease is often a risk factor for kidney disease and vice versa. If you’ve been diagnosed with one, be sure to get tested for the other.
- Healthy diet: Be sure to pack in fresh vegetables and fruits in your diet, and include heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids. These include salmon, albacore tuna, lake trout and sardines, and other foods like flaxseed oil, canola oil and walnuts. Limiting your sodium intake is also important.
- Monitor cholesterol levels: If your cholesterol levels are too high, your doctor may recommend a low-fat diet and regular exercise. Medication may also be prescribed. Blood tests will determine the total cholesterol and other fats in your blood.
- Stop smoking: One of the biggest risk factors for heart and kidney disease is smoking, and that is completely within your control. Smoking can cause the arteries around your heart and kidneys to harden. It’s also a risk factor for high blood pressure, which can lead to heart and kidney disease.
A new report reveals, more than 50 percent of Americans currently aged 30 to 49 will develop kidney disease in their lifetime. To avoid being a part of that statistic, give these kidney loving habits a try.
Finding Your Family Practice
It’s essential to become knowledgeable about your body and how to stay healthy. But, it’s critical to make sure you find a family practice to stay on top of your annual check ups and health. Our staff and team offer years of combined experience so that you can rest assured you are getting the best care. We also have community resources and advocates at our fingertips to help you and your loved ones on their journey to a healthy life.
